Rumi's Masnavi - Or a writer may write on a piece of paper, “I am a writer and a reader, and I am a most accomplished person.”

Or a writer may write on a piece of paper, “I am a writer and a reader, and I am a most accomplished person.”

یا نویسد کاتبی بر کاغذی ** کاتب و خط خوانم و من ابجدی‏

Although this written (statement) itself is a (mere) assertion, still the script is evidence of the reality (of the assertion). 3585

این نوشته گر چه خود دعوی بود ** هم نوشته شاهد معنی بود

Or a Súfí may say, “Last night, while asleep, you saw some one with a prayer carpet on his shoulder.

یا بگوید صوفیی دیدی تو دوش ** در میان خواب سجاده به دوش‏

That was I; and what I said to you in the dream, whilst you slumbered, in explanation of clairvoyance—

من بدم آن و آن چه گفتم خواب در ** با تو اندر خواب در شرح نظر

Give ear (to it), put it in your ear like an ear-ring: make those words (of mine) your mind's guide.”

گوش کن چون حلقه اندر گوش کن ** آن سخن را پیشوای هوش کن‏

When you recollect the dream, these words (of his) are (as real to you as) a new miracle or old gold.

چون ترا یاد آید آن خواب این سخن ** معجز نو باشد و زر کهن‏

Although this seems to be (mere) assertion (on his part), yet the soul of the dreamer says, “Yes, (it is true).” 3590

گر چه دعوی می‏نماید این ولی ** جان صاحب واقعه گوید بلی‏

Therefore, since Wisdom is the faithful believer's stray camel, he knows it with certainty, from whomsoever he has heard it;

پس چو حکمت ضاله‏ی مومن بود ** آن ز هر که بشنود موقن بود

And when he finds himself absolutely in front of it, how should there be doubt? How should he mistake it?

چون که خود را پیش او یابد فقط ** چون بود شک چون کند او را غلط

When you say to a thirsty man, “Make haste! there is water in the cup: take the water at once,”

تشنه‏ای را چون بگویی تو شتاب ** در قدح آب است بستان زود آب‏

Will the thirsty man say in any event?—“This is (mere) assertion: go from my side, O pretender! Get thee far away!

هیچ گوید تشنه کاین دعوی است رو ** از برم ای مدعی مهجور شو

Or (else) produce some testimony and proof that this is of aqueous kind and consists of the water that runs from a spring. 3595

یا گواه و حجتی بنما که این ** جنس آب است و از آن ماء معین‏

Or (suppose that) a mother cries to her suckling babe, “Come, I am mother: hark, my child!”—

یا به طفل شیر مادر بانگ زد ** که بیا من مادرم هان ای ولد

Will the babe say?—“O mother, bring the proof (of it), so that I may take comfort in thy milk.”

طفل گوید مادرا حجت بیار ** تا که با شیرت بگیرم من قرار

When in the heart of any community there is savour (spiritual perception) from God, the face and voice of the prophet are (as) an evidentiary miracle.

در دل هر امتی کز حق مزه ست ** روی و آواز پیمبر معجزه ست‏

When the prophet utters a cry from without, the soul of the community falls to worship within,

چون پیمبر از برون بانگی زند ** جان امت در درون سجده کند

Because never in the world will the soul's ear have heard from any one a cry of the same kind as his. 3600

ز انکه جنس بانگ او اندر جهان ** از کسی نشنیده باشد گوش جان‏

That stranger (the soul), by immediate perception of the strange (wondrous) voice, has heard from God's tongue (the words), “Verily I am near.”

آن غریب از ذوق آواز غریب ** از زبان حق شنود انی قریب‏

How Yahyá, on whom be peace, in his mother's womb bowed in worship to the Messiah (Jesus), on whom be peace.

سجده کردن یحیی علیه السلام در شکم مادر مسیح را علیه السلام

The mother of Yahyá, before disburdening herself (of him), said in secret to Mary,

مادر یحیی به مریم در نهفت ** پیشتر از وضع حمل خویش گفت‏

“I see (it) with certainty, within thee is a King who is possessed of firm purpose and is an Apostle endowed with knowledge (of God).

که یقین دیدم درون تو شهی است ** کاو اولو العزم و رسول آگهی است‏

When I happened to meet thee, my burden (the unborn child) bowed in worship, O intelligent one.

چون برابر اوفتادم با تو من ** کرد سجده حمل من اندر زمن‏

This embryo bowed in worship to that embryo, so that pain arose in my body from its bowing.” 3605

این جنین مر آن جنین را سجده کرد ** کز سجودش در تنم افتاد درد

Mary said, “I also felt within me a bowing performed by this babe in the womb.”

گفت مریم من درون خویش هم ** سجده‏ای دیدم از این طفل شکم‏

On raising a difficulty as to this story.

اشکال آوردن بر این قصه‏

The foolish say, “Cancel this tale, because it is false and erroneous.

ابلهان گویند کاین افسانه را ** خط بکش زیرا دروغ است و خطا

Because Mary at the time of her delivery was far away both from strangers and kinfolk.

ز انکه مریم وقت وضع حمل خویش ** بود از بیگانه دور و هم ز خویش‏